Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, millions of people — in numbers not seen since — came to America in pursuit of a better, freer life. On the east coast most were met by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. On the west coast between 1910 and 1940, most were met by the wooden buildings of Angel Island. Later, during World War II, Japanese and German POWs were detained there before being sent farther inland.

Today Angel Island is a California State Park. Portions of the Immigration Station have been preserved and can be visited. The walls hold a visible and durable testimony to the anguish of some of the immigrants --- poems carved with a classical Cantonese technique into the wooden walls of the barracks.

Our speaker, Katherine Toy, is a board member and served as the first Executive Director of the Angel Island
Immigration Station Foundation. She now serves as Executive Vice President of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy managing Partnerships and Programs. Katherine’s ancestors traveled frequently between the United States and China in the early twentieth century, subjecting them to the interrogation faced by all Chinese during the era of exclusion.

Coyotes in our Midst- Is Compassionate Conversation Feasible?

These wild creatures are part of farm and ranch life. And they have moved from rural habitats into cities, arriving in populated areas of central and southern Marin in the last 15 years.

We know that native carnivores play a critical ecological role in our natural systems. But they can be frightening when they are close to our living areas. Why are they here? And are they becoming bolder about interacting with humans? Marin ranchers, civic leaders, scientists and concerned citizens are trying to figuring out if human communities can coexist synergistically with this kind of wildlife.

Our speaker Keli Hendricks is a rancher and retired horse trainer. After college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she became a professional trainer of cow horses, showing and training them for over 15 years. Today Keli lives and works on the 500-acre Bar C R Ranch in Petaluma. Coyotes, eagles, badgers and other wildlife share the pastures with the livestock on the Bar C R.

Keli is an ambassador for Project Coyote, a national non-profit organization based in Northern California whose mission is to promote compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife.

Tina Swanson - Climate Change: An immediate and growing threat to our community

Climate Change:

An immediate and growing threat

to our community

Evidence from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, collected by scientists and engineers from around the world, tells an unambiguous story: the planet is warming.

Climate Change is here and more is coming. We will see its impact in rising sea levels and larger storm surge, more frequent wildfires, changing precipitation patterns, reduced drinking water from rainfall and snow pack, loss of some species and addition of new diseases, increasing temperatures, and more “bad air” days.

“The threat is profound. It will alter human civilization. It’s not decades away. It’s closer than you think,” said Gov. Jerry Brown.

All this means that we, the people, will be forced to make some really tough decisions. Where to begin? Shall we work on mitigation strategies, many of which could take a long time to turn the tide? Or shall we focus on preparation and adaptation such as building bulwarks for our roads, airports and buildings?

Christina (Tina) Swanson, PhD.

Senior Director, Science Center

Natural Resources Defense Council

Tina Swanson, Director of Natural Resources Defense Council’s Science Center, will bring all this into focus. Based in San Francisco, the NRDC helps ensure that the nation’s environmental policies are based on sound science. Tina previously served as the lead scientist and then Executive Director of the Bay Institute. Tina brings deep knowledge about the Bay’s ecology and environmental threats. She has authored or co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and is nationally known for her expertise in water quality policy and fisheries management.

The #MeToo Movement

The #MeToo movement

Why was a tipping point reached now?

Dr. Mairi Pileggi

Dr. LeeAnn Bartolini

While stories about sexual misconduct by powerful business and political leaders have circulated for ages, in 2017 we saw a significant change. Risking careers and reputations, women shared their stories of sexual abuse. As more women spoke out and demanded change, the egregious behavior and abuses of prominent men became public. Some lost their jobs or retired from public life.

The MeToo campaign, begun in 2006 by Tarana Burke, spread virally in October 2017 to help demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Time magazine declared the silence breakers who catapulted the #MeToo movement into broad awareness the 2017 "Person of the Year."

Although this movement seemed to appear overnight, its precursors have been building for decades. Why was a tipping point reached now? What impact is it having in the U.S. and beyond?

Dr. LeeAnn Bartolini, professor of Psychology, and Dr. Mairi Pileggi, professor of Communication and Media Studies, both of Dominican University will offer their perspective on #MeToo. Dr. Bartolini has been teaching at Dominican since 1985, joining the Psychology Department full-time in 1993. In addition to Psychology courses she teaches Gender Studies courses. Dr. Pileggi’s research focuses on the intersection of the environment, gender, and media with particular attention to relationships of power. Currently chair of the Department of Communication & Media studies, she joined the faculty at Dominican University in 2005.